Tenodesis anchor

ABSTRACT

A tenodesis anchor having an anchor member coupled to at least one fiber loop. The anchor member is inserted into a bone and the loop closed about a tendon to be anchored to the bone. Closing the loops additionally deforms the anchor member so that it remains within the bone, thereby securing the tendon trapped in the loop to the bone without the use of a staple.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/640,888 filed on Mar. 9, 2018.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention to tenodesis anchors and, more specifically, to asoft anchor and loop system for securing a tendon to bone withoutstaples.

2. Description of the Related Art

The treatment of tendonitis, such as biceps tendonitis, may require asurgical procedure to repair a torn tendon and reattach it to theappropriate bone. This procedure is known as tenodesis and involvedcutting the attachment of the tendon to the bone, removing any tornportion, then reattaching the tendon to the bone. Reattachment of thetendon to the bone is typically performed using staples. Staples can beirritating to the patient, however, as they are rigid and are typicallyused in series so that they occupy a large footprint. Accordingly, thereis a need in the art for an approach for anchoring the tendon to bone ina tenodesis procedure that is less irritating and preferably avoids theuse of staples.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a tenodesis anchor system for attachinga tendon to bone without the use of staples. The tenodesis anchor systemcomprise an anchor member having a series of slots formed therein and atleast one closable loop that is woven through the series of slots in theanchor member and has a predetermined diameter for accepting a tendontherein. The loop includes a free end that, when pulled, will reduce thediameter of the loop and cause the loop to slide relative to the anchormember to capture the tendon therein. The anchor member is configurablebetween a first configuration that will pass through a hole in a boneand a second configuration that cannot pass through the hole in responseto sliding of the loop relative to the anchor member. In one embodiment,two loops pass through the series of slots in the anchor member. A firstend of each of the loops is fixed and second end of each of loops formsthe free ends that, when pulled, will reduce the diameter of each of theloops. The system may further comprise an inserter extending along alongitudinal axis and having a first end configured as a fork having apair of spaced apart tines. The pair of tines are configured to form ahole in a bone when driven therein.

The present invention also comprises a method of attaching a tendon tobone. The first step is providing an anchor member having a series ofslots formed therein and at least one loop having a predetermineddiameter that is woven through the series of slots in the anchor memberand terminates in a free end that, when pulled, will cause the loop toslide relative to the anchor member. Next, the anchor member into a boneso that the loop remains on the outside of the bone. A tendon may thenbe passed through the loop and the free end of the loop pulled to reducethe diameter of the loop until the tendon is securely trapped within theloop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated byreading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a tenodesis anchor system according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an anchor member for a tenodesis anchor systemaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a pair of loops that are interconnectedaccording to the present invention

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an inserter for a tenodesis anchor according tothe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic of an inserter coupled to a tenodesis anchoraccording to the present invention prior to inserting the anchor into abone;

FIG. 6 is a schematic of a tenodesis anchor according to the presentinvention installed into a bone and ready to secure a tendon in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, wherein like numeral refer to like partsthroughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a tenodesis anchor 10 according tothe present invention. Anchor 10 comprises an anchor member 12 splicedto a fiber 14, such as by weaving fiber 14 through a series of slots 16formed in anchor member 12, as seen in FIG. 2. Anchor member 12preferably comprises a fibrous pad that will be compressed into adifferent shape as a result of movement of fiber through anchor member12 when anchor member is held in place within a bone. Alternatively,anchor member 12 may comprise a rigid anchor formed from metal plasticor a bioabsorbable material through which fiber 14 may slide.

Fiber 14 may be configured as multiple loops 20 each of which have apredetermined diameter and each of which passes through slots 16. Loops20 each have a fixed end 22 that is fixed to the other loop 20 and afree end 24 that can slide relative to the other loop 20. For example,as seen in FIG. 3, fixed end 22 of loop 20 may be configured to form atube 26 through which free end 24 of the other loop 20 can freely pass,and vice versa. It should be recognized that various approaches may beused for securing fixed ends 22 and allowing for movement of free ends24, such as running knots, eye splices, sliding splices, etc. As eachloop 20 can slide freely through anchor member 12 independently of eachother, a force applied to free end 24 of each loop 20 will cause loops20 to reduce in diameter as free ends 24 slide though or relative to thefixed ends 22 of the other loop 20.

Referring to FIG. 4, anchor member 12 may be inserted through a smallaperture 40 formed into a bone with loops 20 remaining on the outside ofthe bone. A tendon 28 may be positioned within loops 20 and free ends 18pulled to reduce the diameter of loops 20. When free ends 18 are pulledso that loops 20 are substantially closed, tendon 28 will become trappedin loops 20 and anchor member 12, if formed from a fibrous pad, willbecome compressed into a configuration that cannot slide out of boneaperture 40. Consequently, tendon 28 will be secured within loops 20 andanchor member 12 will hold loops 20, and thus tendon 28, securely inplace against the bone. Thus, tendon 28 to be anchored in place may beplaced through loops 20 and free ends 24 pulled to close loops 20 aroundtendon 28 and also compressing anchor member 12 into a configurationthat cannot be withdrawn from the insertion hole. The ends of loops 20may then be tied up to prevent loops 20 from opening.

Referring to FIG. 5, the present invention also includes an inserter 30adapted for installation of anchor 10 in a bone. Inserter 30 extendsalong a longitudinal axis to an end 32 defining a fork 34 having a pairof tines 36 that terminate in sharp points 38.

Referring to FIG. 6, anchor 10 may be positioned between tines 36 andinserter 30 mechanically driven longitudinally into a bone so that sharppoints 38 form an insertion hole therein and anchor member 20 is pushedinto the bone through the insertion hole. Withdrawal of inserter 30 willleave anchor member 20 within the bone.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tenodesis anchor system, comprising: an anchormember having a series of slots formed therein; and at least two loopseach of which is woven through the same series of slots in the anchormember and has a predetermined diameter for accepting a tendon therein,wherein each loop includes a fixed end and a free end such that pullingof the free end will reduce the diameter of the loop and cause the loopto slide relative to the anchor member.
 2. The tenodesis anchor systemof claim 1, wherein the anchor member is configurable between a firstconfiguration that passes through a hole in a bone and a secondconfiguration that cannot pass through the hole in response to slidingof the loop relative to the anchor member.
 3. The tenodesis anchorsystem of claim 1, wherein the free ends of each of the two loops passthrough the fixed ends of the two loops.
 4. The tenodesis anchor systemof claim 3, further comprising an inserter extending along alongitudinal axis and having a first end configured as a fork having apair of spaced apart tines.
 5. The tenodesis anchor system of claim 3,wherein the pair of tines are configured to form a hole in a bone whendriven therein.